Document type : Scientific review / Synthesis

Risk Factors for Chronic Stress in Sows Housed in Groups, and Associated Risks of Prenatal Stress in Their Offspring

Martyna Ewa Lagoda, Joanna Marchewka, Keelin O'Driscoll, Laura Ann Boyle

Published in 2022

Scientific review analysing the different potential risk factors for chronic stress in group-housed pregnant sows, addressing the mechanisms of chronic and prenatal stress, and identifying research needs on these topics.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Housing, Maternity, Stress

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Livestock population in numbers

Eurostat

Published in 2022

News item containing the statistics for herd sizes in EU member countries in 2021: 142 million pigs, 76 million cattle, 60 million sheep and 11 million goats. French herds accounted for 9% of pigs, 23% of cattle, 12% of sheep and 12% of goats in the EU.

Document types:Technical article, Scientific review/ Synthesis

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords: Societal issues

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Rapport du CGAAER n° 19075-01 : Comité de suivi et d’évaluation de l’expérimentation du dispositif de contrôle par vidéo dans les abattoirs tel que prévu par l’article 71 de la loi du 30 octobre 2018

François Gerster

Published in 2022

Conclusions of the monitoring committee for the video-monitoring pilot carried out in 5 volunteer abattoirs, all of which were satisfied with the system and wished to keep it. The advantages and disadvantages of this system are listed, and suggestions are made for improvements.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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Study of the CAP measures and instruments promoting animal welfare and the reduction of antimicrobial use

Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Published in 2022

Study assessing the overall positive impact of the CAP on improving animal welfare and reducing the use of antimicrobials in livestock production. It notes, however, the lack of performance indicators and recommends that more widespread measures should be implemented, with a common European methodology, that indicators adequate to the task should be developed and that mandatory labelling should be extended to more livestock sectors.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Antibiotic resistance, Environment, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Lesson learned in big data for dairy cattle: advanced analytics for heat stress detection

Stefano Benni, Marco Bovo, Miki Agrusti, Mattia Ceccarelli, Alberto Barbaresi, Daniele Torreggiani, Patrizia Tassinari

Published in 2022

Publication on the use of big data to improve sustainability and animal welfare in addition to productivity, in dairy farming. If the data is properly managed, it can be used to model early diagnosis and prevention strategies.  This modelling technique has been developed and tested for the assessment of the impact of heat stress.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicator, Breeding and rearing systems

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European Institute for Animal Law and Policy

Maria Rodrigues da Costa, Alessia Diana

Published in 2022

Scientific review showing that, in farm animals, a high level of animal welfare often leads to lower use of antimicrobials (UAM) and that a low level of welfare was associated with higher UAMs. In organic systems, restrictions on UAMs may however prevent animals from receiving treatment when needed.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Report and Event: For a More Humane Union, A Legal Assessment of EU Farm Animal Welfare Laws

European Institute for Animal Law and Policy

Published in 2022

A report calling for a complete change in the way EU animal welfare legislation is discussed, drafted and implemented. It proposes solutions to the particular problems posed by the current legal drafting and the overly-complicated procedures for amending the legislation.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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The Relationships between Damaging Behaviours and Health in Laying Hens

Virginie Michel, Jutta Berk, Nadya Bozakova, Jerine van der Eijk, Inma Estevez, Teodora Mircheva, Renata Relic, T. Bas Rodenburg, Evangelia N. Sossidou, Maryse Guinebretière

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the detrimental behaviours and health risks that can result from sub-optimal housing and/or rearing conditions in systems offering an alternative to cages for laying hens. Due to the increased social interaction, the risk of harmful behaviours and infectious diseases is increased. Preventive monitoring of the behaviour and health of hens is therefore needed.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Study on animal welfare labelling

DG (SANTE)

Published in 2022

Report presenting the findings of the study conducted by the Commission's (DG SANTE) on consumer awareness of animal-welfare standards and the demand for additional information. It also describes existing animal-welfare labelling schemes in the EU and assesses their design and impact.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Poultry

Keywords:Societal issues, Breeding and rearing, Welfare indicators

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Animal Abuse as an Indicator of Domestic Violence: One Health, One Welfare Approach

Daniel Mota-Rojas, Stefany Monsalve, Karina Lezama-García, Patricia Mora-Medina, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Ramiro Ramírez-Necoechea, Rita de Cassia Maria Garcia

Published in 2022

Scientific review reminding the reader of the link between violence towards animals and violence towards humans and the importance of finding early indicators of violent behaviour. It underlines the importance of the role of the veterinarian in detecting animal abuse and cruelty.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Psychiatric disorders, Human-animal relationships,Societal issues

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